This reagent revealed detectable VP2-S125A specific CNS infiltrating CD8+ T-cells after infection with the S125A mutant virus (24±8%, n = 4), suggesting that the S125A mutant peptide stabilizes MHC I in vivo and activates CD8+ T-cells specific to this peptide, although to a lesser degree than wild-type infection. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and infection.